February 18, 2009

Source: Only 4 teams on Peppers' trade list

Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will agree to be traded to only four teams, three of them in the NFC, a source said.

Two are teams the Panthers will not want to trade him to, the source said.

The source also says that there are issues that could impede a trade to the other two teams such as compensation for the Panthers and potential contract problems for Peppers.

In other words, the teams might not have a high first-round pick to offer Carolina, and might not have the money to pay Peppers.

The Panthers have until 4 p.m. Thursday to apply their franchise tag to Peppers or Jordan Gross, a move that would prevent the player from becoming an unrestricted free agent and bind him to Carolina for another season.

Peppers, obviously, does not want the tag applied to him, which would free him to negotiate his own deal with a prospective suitor. The Panthers, however, would receive nothing in return if he is not tagged.

- Tom Sorensen

Posted by Observer Sports on February 18, 2009 at 01:12 PM | Permalink

Comments

Peppers is a chump. Gross will sign with us eventually. Slap the tag on Peppers and send him to Oakland. Who cares what he wants, he sure doesn't care what the Panthers want. He could have been a professional, not gone to the media with his gripes and made the team look bad. Guess he likes Gross and wanted to give him some leverage. I'd love to see Julius in a 3-4, make a few tackles, no sacks, and miss the pro bowl. Chump.

Posted by: matt | Feb 18, 2009 1:21:44 PM

No offense to Pep, but if he doesn't want to play here then screw where he "wants" to go.
It is insane for him to think we are just going to let him walk and sign with whomever he likes. He still hasn't given a real reason for wanting to leave (it wasnt the cash or winning obviously).

We have known this was coming since the Cardinals game, if the Panthers had any sense they would have just told Pep straight up: "we are franchising you and will gladly work with you on a sign-and-trade deal. Period."

If the Cat's haven't already arranged a sign and trade then someone in the front office needs to be fired.

Posted by: SouthFloridaPanthersFanClub | Feb 18, 2009 1:25:38 PM

Or, maybe Pep was the player caught with Charlotte prostitutes and now needs to get out of town.
12-4 season, Pro-Bowl, potential Super Bowl team in 2010, a hero in your home state, Panthers willing to pay you anything and let you retire here...if you can't be happy, good luck in that greener grass on the other side. Maybe you can get a tryout in the NBA.

Posted by: matt | Feb 18, 2009 1:27:37 PM

The only good part about this whole situation is all Panthers fans getting to laugh their a**** off in a couple years when the team that gave up a first rounder and a boatload of money for Pep realizes he is going to take entire seasons off and would rather be in the Final Four than the Super Bowl.

Posted by: SouthFloridaPanthersFanClub | Feb 18, 2009 1:31:48 PM

SouthFloridaPanthersFanClub, I don't know you but I like your style. RISKY DUMBA** WANNABE BASKETBALL PLAYER!!!!!!

Posted by: matt | Feb 18, 2009 1:36:17 PM

Its Peppers choice if he wants to stay in Carolina or not.He's a great player and I hope he gets on a legitimate super bowl contender.I can tell you this,Carolina was very fortunate to have the season that they had.It was 3 or 4 games that they should have definitely lost.They could have very easily been a 8-8 team and Peppers can see that.They won't ever be a big winner again if they keep Jake at QB.They simply got fully exposed by the Cardinals.If not the Cardinals,then the Eagles would have exposed them.Evidently he must not be happy so he wants to move on while he still has 3-5 good years left.

Posted by: Observer | Feb 18, 2009 1:49:09 PM

I want more information on this so-called 'source'. This would be the first time ever that an Observer writer has had one other than a Panthers press release.

Posted by: Authority | Feb 18, 2009 1:50:02 PM

I'm but who among the Falcon's, Bucs, and Saints play the 3-4 D? I don't recall any of them play it.

Posted by: jbw | Feb 18, 2009 1:55:27 PM

why do i smell a larry johnson for julis peppers trade ?

both want out ? would be smart for both teams !

i get a wierd hunch now that kc moved toa 3-4 defense

Posted by: mike hutch | Feb 18, 2009 1:57:11 PM

Peppers doesn't have a say in where he's traded if franchised, right? So it doesn't really matter who's on "his list"?

Just making sure... because if he has a say, everything is going to become a lot more screwy.

I'm going to guess it's Tampa, Atlanta, Dallas and Baltimore. Dallas without a pick, Tampa and Atlanta having the chance for the playoffs and Baltimore who has a lot of cap problems because of Suggs Scott and Lewis

Posted by: Nate | Feb 18, 2009 2:07:45 PM

Two teams in the NFC South makes no sense if he's serious about the 3-4. None of the teams run that.

Peppers don't want to play in the 3-4, he just wants the hell out of Carolina! Too bad the Falcons won't get him but I'll be happy with him no longer being in our division too.

Posted by: FalconFan | Feb 18, 2009 2:21:33 PM

So up untill this story I had accepted the fact that Peppers wanted to leave and held little resentment to him. All of that has now changed. To me, this is simply a stunt to make it so the Panthers will not Franchise him. He's knows full well that the organization will not trade him to an NFC South team and he also knows full way they have no desire to trade him to a team with a pick in the lower half of the first round. IF this source is legitimate, I doubt Peppers actually wants to go to any of these teams. Lets be honest, if Peppers could go to any team, why would one of the other NFC South teams be a top choice? Peppers is simply listing the most unacceptable teams to the Panthers as a stunt. Very unproffessional and adolescent like if you ask me.

Posted by: JD | Feb 18, 2009 2:36:42 PM

Just wanted to let you know "SouthFloridaPanther,"the past won't get you to the future with this club the way it is.The Panthers have some outstanding players but Jake isn't one of them.Take a look at his stats from the past few years.You won't consistently win in the NFL with a average to mediocre QB which is what Jake has proven to be in the last few years.Last year he just didn't get fully exposed until the playoffs but he showed signs on & off thru out the year.He was saved multiple times by players like Steve Smith.He's only average at best at this point in his career.That's not super bowl material.

Posted by: Observer | Feb 18, 2009 2:43:15 PM

this story is bogus... this "source" doesn't exist. trust me.

Posted by: hass | Feb 18, 2009 2:51:19 PM

A high (top 20) first round pick just isn't going to happen. A late first round pick with another in the second would be great given the fact that the panthers are in a tough spot. Would not be at all surprised to see #90 go for multiple draft choices either...like a 2-3 & 5. the other senario would be for a deferred 2010 first round pick.
given the on-again-off-again---super star one week-to-a nonfactor the next that #90 has been and the bind the organization is in...the only way the panthers will gain a top 15 pick for this year is to trade #90 and #21 as a combo.

to those of you who view #90 as a total bum and an under achiever....why than would you worry about him playing in the nfc south...i believe one of the reasons he under achieves is because he is good enough to be the most often times held and two teamed de in league history...he is a marked man by most every offensive coordinator....the real dissapointment in #90 is that, while he is totally blessed as a athlete he simply goes not have any natural leadership abilities...like for example retirees #30 (MM) or #93 (MR)

Posted by: Nebcatfan | Feb 18, 2009 3:11:11 PM

Trade this clown to Atlanta for Michael Vick and a 1st and 3rd pick! Send Jake with him!

Posted by: Duston | Feb 18, 2009 3:18:37 PM

I have to agree with FalconFan here. This is a stunt. Peppers can't officially refuse a trade to any team. But remember that he must be able to reach a new contract agreement with any team that trades for him. This, in effect, gives him right of first refusal.

The list, while I believe to be accurate based on the source, is bogus in that it represents a guy trying to play hardball.

Simple...playing hardball is no problem. Franchise Julius then work with him as long as he's willing to work in good faith. When he begins acting like a child again let him sit out the '09 season. He's not under contract and won't sign the tender anyway so you'll owe him nothing.

Sadly, I don't think it's as much Nebcat underestimating the value as it is looking at it... no one is gonna give up something big (a la a top 10 pick) for Peppers if they know he wont' sign with them. And if he's really limiting it to 4 teams... 2 in the NFC South, and 1 without a 1st rounder & more (Dallas), then a high first rounder is probably out of it.

A deferred 1st rounder (plus more) might end up being the best option available for the Panthers... which is kinda unfortunate in my mind, because I'd really love to see Raji or Jerry in Carolina.

MICHAEL VICK....MICHAEL VICK!!! We couldnt beat him so trade somebody who doesnt want to be here for him!!!

Posted by: Duston | Feb 18, 2009 3:46:27 PM

Classic, Peppers wants to become a free agent so he can pick and choose his team and deal. This is just an attempt to force carolina not to tag him as they wont agree to trade him to a division rival. It's a chess match, Peppers has carolina in check its the panthers move. Wonder what they do?